Business Growth Weblog

Helpful tips and strategies to take your small business to the next level. In this blog, Ron Ameln, publisher of an entrepreneurial newspaper, and a host of business owners and experts share some of the secrets to business success.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Assessment Tests: The Big Crutch

During the Cardinals recent rain delay, FSN Midwest interviewed Adam Wainright, the Cardinals successful young rightie. The interview focused on Wainright's progress from a mediocre prospect in the Braves organization to his rise to fame with the Cardinals. When asked how he did it, Wainright went through a series of awakenings where he stopped thinking negatively and starting thinking positively. He said it had nothing to do with his actual pitching."On some nights, I was defeated before I even threw a pitch," he said. "If my pregame routine was off or the other time was coming into the game really hot, I just expected the worst."This comment makes me think of these assessment tests that everyone is so excited about. I think they can actually damage an employee's opportunities for success.Now, let me first say I'm a fan of these tests. In fact, I think they've helped me as I've managed employees and shifted job responsibilities, etc. I believe these tests can help an owner build a better, more cohesive team.I'm not a big fan of sharing the results with employees (I speak from experience). Why? Just like Wainright, the results can get employees in the wrong mindset. Just because the test says you are a starter and not a finisher doesn't mean you can never finish things in life. The test should say to employees: You are poor at finishing, you need to realize this and improve upon it. It's holding you back. Instead, many employees use these tests as a crutch--"Ok, I'm not a finisher so I won't get out of my comfort zone and do anything that involves finishing a project, assignment, etc." If they do take on a new project, they are often deflated before they give themselves a chance. At the first sign of failure they say, "Oh, I'm not a finisher. The tests proved it. It looks like this project will end the same as the others."Now, if your company has the resources to hire 10 starters and match them with 10 finishers, you might be in good shape. However, life usually doesn't work like this. We all need to be finishers, even if it doesn't come naturally.The point is to be careful how you release the assessment test data to employees. The goal is to maximize their efforts, not give them a reason to not grow as an employee and individual.

About Me

As a journalist and owner the St. Louis Small Business Monthly, Ron Ameln has aided entrepreneurs and business owners with helpful, informative and inspiring articles on succeeding in business. Since 1992, Ameln has written thousands of articles on business issues and topics, ranging from “How to Choose A Health Care Plan” to “How To Gain Bank Financing.” Ameln has also written profiles on hundreds of growing businesses. These profiles have offered insight into the challenges faced by businesses, as well as the accomplishments and achievements of these firms. Ameln was named the SBA's National Small Business Journalist of the Year in 2008.